Garbage disposer with direct water supply



Jan. 2, 1951 H. JORDAN GARBAGE DISPOSER WITH DIRECT WATER SUPPLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1946 ..m 0 3 PA 4 4 Q Ed 0 2AM W w 4 A 5 g H 4 3 7.6 9 2 2 3 5 4 7m. 2 w 55 6 w JD 7 a w 5 J 6 3 W W ma UH Jan. 2, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 20. 1946 W R R w mwmm N 0 r 5 E J A :m 0 V $H.. fmwmc I Arm /zs flak 0 6 e HA i W a 4 7 M30 3 4/ W Z 4 K r J 0 M K Q UA, n

Patented Jan. 2, 1951 Hans Jordan, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Given Machinery Company, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 20, 1946, Serial No. 671,105

Claims. (CL i -187) My invention relates to the waste disposal art and, more particularly, to a device adapted for the comminution and disposal of garbage and other waste materials.

Such devices are generally well known in the art, one form thereof being illustrated and described in detail in my co-pending application, Serial Number 639,753, filed January 8, 1946, now Patent No. 2,442,812 issued June 8, 1948 to which reference is hereby made for the purpose of generally understanding such devices. The specific construction of the disposal unit forms no part of the present invention, the present invention relating to the water supply system for the disposal unit and the control system therefor.

It is conventional practice in the art to provide a garbage disposal unit in connection with a conventional household sink in which water is supplied to the unit directly from the sink to assist in the comminution of waste materials in the unit and the flushing of the same therefrom. Such a device is generally illustrated in the patent to Powers, No. 2,185,037, issued December 26, 1939, to which reference is hereby made. In devices of this type water must be fed to the disposer unit during comminution of the material therein, and if such water is fed to the unit directly through the sink, as illustrated in the said Powers patent, the interior of the disposer unit must be open, obviously, to the sink during operation of the disposer unit. As there is normally considerable noise resulting from the comminu tion of waste material, particularly during the comminution of bones and other hard substances, such noise is readily transmitted to the room in which the disposer unit is located. This is very undesirable, as it is, or tends to be, annoying to the housewife or other person in the vicinity of the disposer during operation.

A further disadvantage of such a conventional unit is that there is normally considerable agitation of the material being comminuted during the comminuting operation and, as the disposal device is directly open to the sink through an opening or openings permitting the entrance of water into the disposal unit, waste material and bits thereof are frequently projected upwardly during such comminution through the openings and into the kitchen or other room in which the unit is located, tending to spatter the walls and being otherwise disagreeable.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a garbage disposal device in which water is fed directly into the unit through a side wall thereof, instead of indirectly through the 2 sink, so that during comminution of material therein the opening between the unit and the sink may be entirely closed so as to dampen all 01' a substantial part of the noise normally attending the operation of the unit and to confine in the unit all of the waste material being comminuted therein, thus obviating the disadvantages set forth in the last paragraph above.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control system for such a disposal unit, in which water is fed to the unit whenever the main motor switch of the unit is energized, so as to insure that water is always in the unit in ample quantities during the comminution operation thereof, and in which the motor of the unit cannot be energized when the water pressure in the line supplying the unit falls below a predetermined minimum pressure, so as to insure that the unit cannot be operated in the absence of or a failure of the water supply:

Another object of theinvention is to provide in such a device a novel stopper construction adapted to serve as a conventional stopper for a sink and alternatively as a means of energizing the disposal unit, as desired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in connection with such a disposal unit a novel type of main switch for operating the unit, which is energized in response to movement of the drain stopper into its opening, but before the stopper is seated in such opening, including the provision of means for locking the stopper in the opening in its position after actuating the main switch.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the motor of the unit cannot be actuated, except with difficulty, when the drain stopper is removed from its opening. This is a safety feature of the invention, tending to prevent injury to the housewife or other operator which might occur if the comminuting mechanism could be operated while the entrance opening of the unit is open.

Other objects of the invention, and advantages thereof, will appear from the following specification, and from the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating such a disposal unit with its control system installed in connection with a conventional sink:

Fig. 2 is a wiring and flow diagram illustrating the electrical and water circuits of the device;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, greatly enlarged, of

the drain stopper installed in a sink, as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 I of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the drain stopper shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a view, similar to Fig. 6, showing the drain stopper in its safety lock position;

the drain stopper in its drain position;

Fig. 9 is a view, similar to Fig. 6, but showing the drain stopper in its drain closed position; and

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the antisiphon device, considerably enlarged.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, I show a waste material disposal unit I2 having an electric motor I3 and supported by a conventional household sink I i. A fluid supply line I5 connects the disposal unit I2 with a suitable source of fluid, such as a water main (not shown), and has in the line thereof a pressure-operated switch mechanism I5, an anti-siphon device II, solenoid-actuated valve means I8, and a manually-operable valve I9. Disposed between the disposal unit I2 and the sink I4 is a stopper device 28, and carried by the disposal unit is a main switch device 2 I.

The disposal unit I2 may be of any suitable type, such as that shown in my said co-pending application, Serial No. 639,753, which contains comminuting means (not shown) actuated by the electric motor I3 to comminute garbage or other waste materials introduced into the disposal unit. As will be noted, the disposal unit I2 includes a vertically disposed hopper 23 having an opening 2 2- in the upper end thereof which is axially aligned with an opening 25 in the sink I4, through which openings garbage or other waste materials may be introduced into the disposal unit. The disposal unit is preferably resiliently supported on the sink It by a suitable mounting structure 26 which is threaded onto a collar Z'I which seats in the sink opening 25.

- The fluid supply line I5 communicates with the interior of the disposal unit l2 through an inlet opening 29 formed in the side wall of the hopper 23. The fluid supply line I5 is preferably substantially tangential to the side wall of the hopper 23 so that water or other fluid entering through the inlet opening 29 will be given a swirling motion in the hopper. This facilitates comminution of waste material in the unit and the flushing of comminuted material therefrom.

The pressure-operated switch mechanism It is preferably of the conventional bellows type in which a movable bellows is designed to open or close switch contacts in response to movement of the bellows. In the construction shown, it is necessarily of the type in which the switch contacts are normally open, the bellows being normally in a retracted position, but in which the bellows moves in response to a predetermined fluid pressure rise in the fluid supply line I5 to close the switch contact. Pressure-operated switches of this type are well known in the art, and any suitable type may be substituted for that specifically pointed out. As is also well known in the art, such pressure-operated switches may be adapted to any particular water pressure employed in the fluid supply line I5, and are adjusted or set so that they will not close electrical contact unless there is a, substantial fluid pressure in the fluid supply line I5. In the embodi- '10 Fig. 8 is a view, similar to Fig. 6, but showing ment shown, with a normal fluid pressure in the water main of approximately 40 pounds per square inch, the switch mechanism I6 is set so as to close electrical contact when the water pressure in the fluid supply line I5 is at 5 pounds per square inch or over, but will remain open if the pressure falls below this value.

The anti-siphon device H is of any conventional type, and, as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 10, includes an outer housing 3% having an inlet 3| and an outlet 32, the inlet being provided with a vertically extending tubular neck 33 over which fits an inverted cup member 3G. The outer housing 323 is also provided with an axial port 35 in the top thereof which registers with an opening in a circular washer 36 retained in the housing. When fluid is flowing in the supply line 55, it flows into the anti-siphon device El through the inlet 35, upwardly through the neck 33, and raises the cup member 3:! upwardly to seat it against the washer 35 so as to close the port 35. The fluid then flows downwardly around the neck 33 and upwardly around the cup member 34 and out through the outlet 32. If, at any time, the flow of fluid through the supply line I5 stops, or tends to reverse its direction, the cup member 34 returns to the position shown in Fig. 10, so as to break suction between the water main and the disposal unit I2, thus preventing any return of waste material from the disposal unit to thewater main.

The solenoid-actuated valve means I8 may be of any conventional type, including a valve mechanism (not shown) adapted to open or close fluid communication through the fluid supply line I5,

and an electrically operated solenoid 38, diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2, which controls the operation of the valve. Such devices are conventional equipment, anda detailed explanation is believed unnecessary. It should be noted, however, that the particular type of solenoidactuated valve I3 used in the present invention is one in which the valve thereof normally is in its closed position so as to close the fluid supply line I5, requiring energization of the solenoid 38 to open the same, the valve returning to its closed position upon deenergization of the solenoid.

The electrical circuit of the system, as illustrated in Fig. 2, includes wires 39 and 55 which are adapted to be connected to an electric power main by a suitable plug t! in a conventional manner, as shown in Fig. 1. The wire 39 is connected to one switch terminal d2 of the main switch device EI. The wire 49 is electrically connected to one terminal of the solenoid 33, the other terminal of which is connected by a wire 13 to the other switch terminal id of the main switch device 2E. The wire 46 is also connected by a wire 65 to one terminal of the pressureoperated switch mechanism I5, the other terminal of which is connected by a wire 56 to one terminal of the motor I3. The .other terminal of the motor I3 is connected by a wire t? to the wire 43. It will thus be understood that the motor I3 and the pressure-operated switch mechanism I5 are in series with each other and in parallel with the solenoid 38, and that both circuits are energized or de-energized simultaneously by actuation of the main switch device 2|.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the pressure-operated switch mechanism It includes a switch box 53 mounted on the side wall of the hopper 23, the top of which is closed by a conduit box 5I suitably secured to the switch box by 5, screws or otherwise so as to be removable therefrom. The switch box 50 includes a head 52 at its upper end, which is bored to receive a sleeve 53, the lower end of which is threaded into the head. Mounted for axial movement in the sleeve is a switch stem 54 which extends at an angle upwardly into the opening 24 into the line of the stopper device 29, as will be described more in detail hereinafter. The switch stem 54 is provided with a stop collar 56, which is fixed thereto as by a suitable cross-pin, and which limits upward movement of the stem and provides at its lower end a seating face engaged by a compression spring 51, the lower end of which engages a cap nut 58 threaded onto the lower end of the sleeve 53. The lower end of the switch stem 54 is provided with a conical actuating head 56 which engages a spring finger 60 of a microswitch assembly 6| which is supported on the inner wall of the conduit box by suitable spacer legs 52, and which is provided with switch contact terminals 63 and S4.

The conduit box 5! is provided with a bus bar 65 carrying the terminal 42 to which the wire 39 is electrically connected. Also connected to the bus bar E5 is a short wire 66 electrically .connecting it with the switch contact terminal 63. Also provided in the conduit box 5| is a terminal lug 6? to which are connected the wires is and 45. A second bus bar 68 is provided in the conduit box 5| and carries the terminal 4 3, to which are connected the wires and 41, this bus bar being connected to the switch contact terminal 64 by a short wire 69. Also provided in the conduit box 5| is a terminal lug it to which are connected two halves of the wire 46, which is made in two halves for the convenience of wiring. The electrical circuit will be apparent from Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 8, the stopper device 20 includes the collar 21, which is so formed at its lower end as to provide a conical seat II, and has on each side thereof inwardly projecting flanges 12 and '13, the flange 12 being provided with a notch 74 therein and the flange 13 being provided with a similar notch E5 therein. As best shown in Fig. 6, the flange 12 has a flat inner face l6, and the flange 13 has a similar face 11, the faces being parallel, and the top plate has an actuating pin '58 extending downwardly therefrom. Adapted to fit into the collar 27 is 'a stopper assembly '19, which includes a circular top plate 88 which is beveled at its edge 8| so as to seat in fluid-tight relation on the conical seat H of the collar 27. As best shown in Fig. 3, formed in the top plate 80 are drain openings 82, which are disposed diametrically opposite to each other. The top plate is also provided with a central aperture 83 through which extends a hub 84 of a handle member 85, the lower end of the hub being of reduced diameter so as to receive a lower plate 86, the lower plate being retained on the hub by a screw 81, and being held against rotation relative thereto by a pin 88 which extends upwardly through the lower plate and into the hub so as to key the two parts together.

As shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9, the lower plate 86 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed drain apertures 90, which, in the run and drain positions illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8, respectively, register with the drain openings 82 in the top plate 80. The lower plate 86 has a circular central hub 9i of a diameter substantially less than the minimum distance between the faces 16 and H on the flanges l2 and 13, and has a horizontal flange 92 extending from the hub.

As best shown in Fig. 6, the horizontal flange 92 is provided with parallel flat faces 93 and 94 which, when aligned with the faces 16 and ll of the collar 21, permit the stopper assembly 79 to be inserted into the collar in either of the positions shown in Figs. 6 or 8 so as to seat the beveled edge 8| of the top plate 80 on the conical seat H of the collar, as best shown generally in Fig. 4. As also shown in Fig. 6, the horizontal flange 92 is provided with a cutaway portion 95 so as to provide shoulders 96 and 9'! which serve as stops to limit rotation of the lower plate 86- relative to the upper plate 80by engagement with the actuating pin 78.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the handle member 85 is provided on its top with an arrow 98, or other indicia, adapted to register with an indicia 99 on the collar 21 or with an indicia I 00 on the collar. As will be noted, the indicia 99 indicates the run position of the stopper assembly 19, in which position the motor l3 of the disposal unit i2 is operated to comminute waste materials in the disposal unit, and the indicia [Elli indicates the drain position in which the stopper assembly operates merely as a' conventional sink stopper, and in which position the disposal unit is not actuated. The run position shown in Fig. 3 is also illustrated in Fig. 6, and the drain position is illustrated in Fig. 8. When the stopper assembly 19 is in the run position shown in Figs. 3 and 6,. the actuating pin 78 has engaged and depressed the switch stem 54 so that the conical actuating head 59 thereof has moved the spring finger Bil so as to close the electrical circuit through the micro-switch assembly 6!, to

actuate the motor I3 and to energize the solenoid 38. As will be apparent, the stopper assembly it must be manually held in the run. position shown in Figs. 3 and 6, as the compression spring 51 of the main switch device 2i tends to move the stopper assembly upwardly out of its seated position in the collar 21.

However, by rotating the handle member 35 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 3, from the run position shown to a position in which the arrow 98 registers with an indicia It on the collar 21, which indicates the safety lock position, the stopper assembly is locked in the collar and need not be manually retained therein. Such rotation of the handle member is, of course, communicated to the lower plate 855 to rotate it from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 7 (which is counter-clockwise as seen in these views), in which the horizontal flange 92 passes beneath the flanges i2 and it of the collar 21, preventing removal or displacement of the stopper assembly from the collar. As will also be noted, such rotation of the lower plate 86 also rotates its drain apertures 91] out of registry with the drain openings 82 of the top plate 80, thus closing communication between the interior of the disposal unit 12 and the sink E i. This dampens the noise incident to operation of the disposal unit l2, and also prevents any waste material from being propelled or discharged upwardly into the sink during. operation of the disposal unit.

When it is desired to stop the operation of the disposal unit [2, the handle member 85 is rotated from the safety lock position shown in Fig. 8 to the run position shown in Fig. 6 and the stopper assembly I9 is then manually removed from the collar 21. As will be understood, as soon as the stopper assembly 19 is withdrawn so as to take the actuating pin 18 out of engage- 7 ment with the switch stem 54, the compression spring moves the switch stem ta upwardly so that the conical actuating head 59 thereof moves out of engagement with the spring ringer 6t to open the electrical circuit through the micro switch assembly ti, thus deenergizing the electric motor l5. When in this deenergized position, the upper end or the switch stem be is partially covered by the flange it of the collar 2i so that it cannot readily be depressed by the hand of an operator being inserted into the opening 24, thus serving as a saiety measure to prevent inadvertent operation of the device during cleaning of the disposal unit it or otherwise when the stopper assembly '15 is removed from the collar 21. As W111 also be apparent, the movement or the switch stem 54 is substantially a straight thrust against the counter-action of the compression spring 51, the latter being set for a substantial iorce, SllCll as, IOr eXalIlpie, at least 5 pounds, so that inadvertent compression of the switch stem 54 is further mimmized.

By reinsertlng the stopper assembly 19 into the collar 2| in a reverse position in which the actuating pin it passes into the notch #5 or the flange T3, to the drain position illustrated in Fig. 8, the stopper assembly 19 serves as a conventional drain stopper for the sink Hi, there being nothing operative in this position to compress the valve stem 54 and thus actuate the motor E3 of the disposal unit l2. As will be seen from Fig. 8, in the drain position shown therein the drain apertures 90 of the lower plate 88 register with the drain openings 32: of the top plate 8!), thus permitting water 'to drain from the sink M through the disposal unit 92 to the sewer or other point of disposal (not shown). By rotating the handle member 85 so as to rotate the bottom plate 86 from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the drain closed position illustrated in Fig. 9, in which the arrow 98 registers with an indicia Hi2 on the collar 21, the drain apertures 9i are moved out of registry with the drain openings 82, so as to close fluid communication between the sink i4 and the disposal unit I2, and such movement also rotates the horizontal flange 92 beneath the flanges l2 and 13 of the collar 21 so as to lock the stopper member in the drain closed position. It will thus be understood that to change the stopper assembly .79 from its drain position to its run position, or vice versa, the stopper assembly must be entirely removed from the collar 21 and rotated 180, the actuating pin 18 of the stopper assembly being inserted into the appropriate notch 14 or 15.

It is also to be noted that when the stopper assembly 19 is inserted into the collar 21 to the run position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the actuating pin 18 depresses the switch stem 54 and closes the circuit through the micro switch assembly 6| before the beveled edge 88 of the top plate 80 seats on the conical seat H of the collar, and before the conical actuating head 59 has moved downwardly to its foremost limit shown in Fig. 4, and this is an important feature of the invention, as it insures that the compression spring 5'! will be fully compressed and loaded when the stopper assembly is moved to its seated position illustrated in Fig. 4. In this run position considerable manual force must be applied to the stopper assembly) to retain the pin 18 manually in operative position, but the lower plate 8% may be turned with respect to the top plate 80 to the safety lock position, so as to retain the top plate in the position to which it was manually depressed. The stopper device 20 has a further advantage in that it permits the disposalunit 12 to be operated only momentarily, if desired, simply by inserting the stopper assembly 19 into the collar 21 in the run" position and manually holding it there for a second or two, which is frequently desired by the housewife when comminuting only a small amount of waste material, such as, for example, the peel of a single orange. Thus, the disposal unit I2 may be momentarily operated and then deenergized, as desired.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, if the water pressure in the fluid supply line it falls below the predetermined pressure for which the pressure-operated switch mechanism 16 is initially set, such reduction in water pressure will actuate the switch mechanism so as to open the electrical circuit tothe motor 13, thus preventing energization of the motor until such time as the water pressure returns to the system. This, as pointed out above, prevents operation of the motor unless there is sufficient water pressure to supply the disposal unit I2 with fluid. The function of the anti-siphon device I! has been described above in what is believed to be sufficient detail, it being apparent that this device will prevent a backflow through the fluid supply line I5 from the disposal unit [2 to the water main, which is undesirable. It is to be noted, however, that the anti-siphon device I1 is preferably located above the upper rim of the sink is so that in the event of a stoppage in the system the sink will overflow before water will backup into the anti-siphon device.

Although I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that certain parts thereof are merely illustrative, and that other parts or elements may be substituted therefor without departing from the spirit of the invention. Consequently, I do not intend to be limited to the specific embodiment shown, but desire to be afforded'the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a waste disposal device, the combination of: hopper means having an opening therein through which Waste material can be inserted into said hopper means; comminuting means in said hopper means, adapted to comminute waste material therein, including an electric motor; an electrical circuit adapted to energize said mo tor; fluid supply means for supplying fluid to the interior of said hopper means and independently of said opening; valve means in said fluid supply means for controlling the flow of fluid to the inte'rior of said hopper means; normally open pressure-operated switch means associated with said fluid supply means and said circuit and disposed downstream from said valve meansand adapted to close in response to a predetermined fluid pressure in said fluid supply means and to open in response to a predetermined drop in fluid pressure in said fluid supply means to open said circuit; and stopper means adapted to close said opening during the comminution of waste material in said hopper means.

2. In a waste disposal device, the combination of: hopper means having an opening therein through which waste material can be inserted into said hopper means; comminuting means in said hopper means, adapted to comminute waste material therein; fluid supply means for supplying a fluid to the interior of said hopper means; and stopper means for said opening, adapted to be inserted into said opening in one position to actuate said comminuting means, said stopper means having a movable part adapted to be moved when said stopper means is in said one position to lock said stopper means in said 'opening, and adapted to be inserted into said open ing in a second position in which it is inoperative to actuate said comminuting means, said part being movable when said stopper means is in said second position to open or close said opening.

3. In a waste disposal device, the combination of: hopper means having an opening therein through which waste material can be inserted into said hopper means; comminuting means in said hopper means, adapted to comminute waste material therein; fluid supply means for supplying a fluid to the interior of said hopper means; and stopper means for said opening, adapted to be inserted into said opening in one position to actuate said comminuting means, and

adapted to be inserted into said opening in a second position in which it is inoperative to actuate said comminuting means, said stopper means having a movable part adapted to be moved when said stopper means is in either of said positions to close said stopper means and to lock the same in said opening.

4. In a waste disposal device, the combination of: hopper means having an opening therein through which waste material can be inserted into said hopper means; comminuting means in said hopper means, including an electric motor; switch means projecting into said opening and electrically connected to said motor to control the operation thereof; and stopper means insertable into said opening to close the same, said stopper means actuating said switch means as it is inserted into said opening so as to energize said motor, said stopper means having a movable part which is movable after actuation of said switch means to lock said stopper means in said opening.

5. In a drain stopper device, the combination of a drain opening collar having a flange provided with an opening therein; and a drain stopper insertable into said collar, said stopper including a first plate adapted to seat in said collar, means for preventing rotation of said first plate when it is in said seated position, a second plate rotatably mounted on said first plate and adapted to fit under said flange when rotated in one direction to lock said stopper relative to said collar, and means for rotating said second plate when said first plate is in said seated position so as to so lock said stopper.

6. In a drain stopper device, the combination of: a drain opening collar having a flange provided with an opening therein; and a drain stopper insertable into said collar, said stopper including a first plate adapted to seat in said collar and having a first opening therethrough, means for preventing rotation of said first plate when it is in said seated position, a second plate rotatably mounted on said first plate and adapted to fit under said flange when rotated in one direction to lock said stopper relative to said collar, said second plate having a second opening therethrough adapted to register with said first opening when said stopper is in its initial seated position, and means for rotating said second plate when said first plate is in said seated position so as to so lock said stopper and so as to move said second opening out of registry with said first opening.

'7. In a waste disposal device, the combination of: hopper means having an opening therein through which waste material can be inserted into said hopper means; comminuting means in said hopper means, adapted to comminute waste material therein, including an electric motor; fluid supply means for supplying a fluid to the interior of said hopper means and independently of said opening; solenoid-actuated valve means in said fluid supply means, said valve means being normally closed but adapted to be energized to open fluid communication through said supply means; movable stopper means adapted to close said opening during the comminution of waste material in said hopper means; switch means in circuit with said solenoid-actuated valve means and operative in response to movement of said stopper means for actuating said valve means so as to admit fluid through said fluid supply means to said hopper means; and a normally open fluid pressure responsive switch disposed in said fluid supply means downstream from said valve means, said fluid pressure responsive switch being connected in circuit with said motor and adapted to close in response to predetermined fluid pressure developed in said sup-ply means after said valve means is opened, so as to energize said motor.

8. In a Waste disposal device, the combination of: hopper means having an opening therein through which waste material can be inserted into said hopper means; comminuting mean in said hopper means, adapted to comminute waste material therein; fluid supply means for supplying a fluid to the interior of said hopper means and independently of said opening; electrically operated valve means in the line of said fluid supply means, said valve means being normally closed but operable when electrically energized to open fluid communication through said fluid supply means; stopper means movable axially in said opening and adapted to close said opening during the comminution of waste material in said hopper means; an electric circuit for said valve means; a normally open switch. in said circuit and adapted to close in response to axial movement of said stopper means in one direction so as to operate said valve means; and a fluid pressure responsive switch disposed in said fluid supply means downstream from said valve means, said pressure responsive switch and said motor being connected in parallel in said circuit, said pressure responsive switch being adapted to close in response to predetermined fluid pressure developed in said supply means after said valve means is opened, so as to energize said motor.

9. In a waste disposal device, the combination of: hopper means having an opening therein through which waste material can be inserted into said hopper means; comminuting means in said hopper means, adapted to comminute waste material therein; fluid supply means for supplying a fluid directly to the interior of said hopper means; and stopper means for said opening, said stopper means having a pair of relatively rotatable elements, each having discharge apertures therein, said stopper means being adapted to be inserted into said opening in one position in which said discharge apertures of said elements are out of alignment so as to completely close said opening and to actuate said comminuting means, and adapted to be inserted into said opening in a second position in which it is inoperative to actuate said comminuting means and in which said discharge apertures are aligned to partially open said opening.

11 10. In a waste disposal device, the combination of: hopper means having an opening therein through which waste material can be inserted into said hopper means; comminuting means in said hopper means, including an electric motor; switch means projecting into said opening and electrically connected to said motor to control the operation thereof; and stopper means insertable into said opening in either of two positions,

said stopper means having a projection thereon 1 adapted to engage and actuate said switch means when said stopper means is inserted into said opening in one of said positions so as to energize said motor, insertion of said stopper means in the other of said positions preventing engagements of said projection with said switch so that said motor remains de-energized.

HANS JORDAN.

12 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

